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There’s a ‘satirical’ musical about Prince Andrew coming to Channel 4

The musical will include a reimagining of the former-HRH’s bombshell interview with Emily Maitlis.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 22nd August 2022

As bizarre as it sounds, a “satirical” musical about the life and times of Prince Andrew is set to air our on TV screens later this year.

We may not have asked for it, and we definitely didn’t see it coming, but as part of what is being called “an impressive roster” of shows commissioned to celebrate 40 years of Channel 4 – which has prided itself on “diverse, experimental, and challenging programming” since 1982 – a musical comedy about Prince Andrew has actually become a reality.

The simply-named, Prince Andrew: The Musical, is written by and starring Kieran Hodgson as Prince Andrew himself, with original music co-written by Freddie Tapner.

According to an overview of the one-hour comedy special, a cast of upcoming comics will perform a “satirical send-up of the life and times of Prince Andrew” set to a musical score – with a story centring on the key events, relationships, and controversies of his life.

Crucially, as many will be expecting, the musical is to include a reimagining of the former-HRH’s bombshell interview with Emily Maitlis.

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The comedy special is promising to make “the man behind the headlines face the music”.

The musical will include a reimagining of the former-HRH’s bombshell interview with Emily Maitlis / Credit: BBC

Announcing its 40th anniversary lineup of programming, Channel 4 said: “It has forever been our a mission to make mischief and noise that dares to tell the truth about modern Britain and how we live [so] to mark this important milestone, an impressive roster of programming has been commissioned that speaks to our radical, irreverent, and iconoclastic roots.

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Read more: Song called ‘Prince Andrew Is A Sweaty N***e’ climbs the UK charts

“Each of these new shows are set to do what Channel 4 was created for – to give voice to the unheard, say the unsayable and show the unseen. 

“Each connect with the Channel’s 4 core values, and vividly reflect its purpose in 2022.”

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A provocative exploration of cancel culture in art, a revival of Friday Night Live, a revealing documentary on the role of Britain in shaping much about our modern world during the 80s, and a documentary following the experiences of the hidden minority of men who have extra-large penises, are also to air on Channel 4 to mark its 40 years on air.

Read more: Makers of new documentary want to speak to people who are ‘too large for love’

Channel 4’s programme boss, Ian Katz, said the new commissions were “a collection of irreverent, thought-provoking and hugely entertaining shows that no other broadcaster would air”.

“If we must age, we plan to do it disgracefully,” he concluded.

Featured Image – BBC

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Jürgen Klopp reveals the main reason he turned down the Manchester United job

Danny Jones Danny Jones The reason why Jurgen Klopp turned down the Man United manager job

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has revealed one of the main reasons he turned down the Manchester United job more than a decade ago.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund boss turned Merseyside hero spent nine years at Anfield, going on to win a Champions League, Premier League, and a collection of cups.

It’s also worth noting that this all came in the years following the departure of legendary Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but there could have been an alternate reality where Klopp carried on where ‘Fergie’ left off, as the now 58-year-old says the club spoke to him during that time.

With Sir Alex leaving in 2013 after the best part of 30 years, Klopp told Steven Bartlett on his most recent Diary of A CEO episode that “of course, they were interested.”

Admitting that the interest was mutual “at one point”, the prospect of joining Liverpool‘s historic rivals clearly appealed to him.

Noting that he was flourishing as an up-and-coming coach (aged 46 back then) in charge of an impressive Dortmund team – adding that even some of his then future players to be at Liverpool flew to watch them play in the Champions League – it’s clear he had plenty of suitors.

However, the retired German footballer turned ‘Gegenpressing’ tactician goes on to explain that despite United trying to poach him from the Bundesliga, it was “the wrong time, wrong moment for me.”

Crucially, he says that some aspects of the conversations between him and the club at the time proved to be a turn-off rather than an incentive, citing talk of ‘the biggest club in the world’ and supposedly “signing any player we want.”

In short, Klopp says that, crucially, it didn’t sound like it would have been his project, drawing parallels to the board wanting to bring back players like Paul Pogba, with arguably similar ‘mistakes’ being made with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo. In his eyes, looking backwards simply “never helps”.

You can see the clip in full here:

Had he not turned down the offer, do you think Klopp could have helped rebuild Man United?

According to Klopp, after negotiations seemed to revolve primarily around the kind of players they were going to bring in, he decided the opportunity wasn’t for him.

Nevertheless, it looked like things worked out for Merseyside’s biggest club, at least, as he went on to become one of the most successful managers in the Premier League, managing to break up the long period of dominance overseen by both Manchester United and, most recently, Man City.

As for the red half of Manchester, they at the very least had a good weekend as they finally ended their long wait for a win away against Liverpool.

In case you missed it, you can watch the highlights – including another big clutch goal from Harry Maguire – down below.

What an ending that was, eh?

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Featured Images — Diary of a CEO (screenshots via YouTube)/Tim Reckmann (via WikiCommons)

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More than £2 million in compensation received by underpaid workers in the North West

Danny Jones Danny Jones Underpaid workers North West compensation minimum wage fines

More than £2 million is said to have been dished out in compensation to workers in the North West alone, as the UK government is continuing to crack down on employers underpaying their staff.

Employees from nearly 500 different companies across the region have received the money they owed following a raft of fines in excess of £2.7 million.

Covering the likes of Greater Manchester and beyond, the companies responsible have been revealed by the government as part of the new Fair Work Agency (FWA), which is tasked with shoring up workers’ rights moving forward.

The FWA is part of Labour’s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and hopes not only to correctly reimburse those short-changed but also, with the clear threat of swift action, deter others from trying to do the same in the future.

Released publicly last Friday, 17 October, 80 companies that failed to properly pay approximately 19,000 workers in and around the North West have now been repaid by their employers.

Perhaps most concerningly is that the fines sweep across multiple sectors and sizes, from local independents and SME to well-known high street brands.

From April 2026 onwards, the updated Employment Rights Bill (which also includes the FWA) grants more powers to tackle employers underpaying workers and failing to fulfil both holiday and sick pay. 

This announcement also comes after the National Minimum Wage rate was increased earlier this year, with millions getting a pay rise and those working full-time on the National Living Wage seeing their families supported by an extra £1,400 per year. 

Under the ‘Make Work Pay’ initiative set out by the Labour Party, more than 15 million Brits are expected to benefit from the new measures.

Overall, roughly £6 million has been put back into the pockets of underpaid workers up and down the country following these fines, which are said to have totalled roughly £10.2m. The full list of companies in question can be seen HERE.

Speaking on the news, Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said: “This government is taking direct action to ensure workers get every penny they’ve earned, and to put an end to bad businesses undercutting good ones.

“We’re proud to have delivered a strong minimum wage, and enforcing it thoroughly is crucial in our mission to put pounds back in your pocket. I know this news will be welcomed by brilliant businesses across the country, those who know that happy, well-paid staff are at the heart of building a successful company.

“With our new Fair Work Agency and the coming Employment Rights Bill, this government is keeping our promise to Britain to make work pay again.”

If you fear you might be suffering from underpayment by your employer, you can check that your wages are correct online; alternatively, you can call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or contact their website for more information right HERE.

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Featured Images — Nick Pampoukidis (via Flickr)

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